P/ inspection

[KNIPEX]

Hiu guys, this is a good one, doing a perodic inspection today, opened up a three phase db the board had abuot 20 circuits on there, to find out that none of the circuits had any earths. i had to look twice.

its wired in old micc, so they are using that, also lots of other circuits in galv painted old conduit, again they are using the conduit as their earth, which goes into trunking then an earth from there onto the distboard.

just to add the incomer did have an earth with it.

given as this place is a hospital, im going to code this code 1, i really think it needs upgrading sharpish, cant believe systems like this are still in place and a hospital aswell.

whats your views on this??

also they have used a lot of domestic type light switches rather than grid switches, would you guys code this or just note it?

cheers, look forward to hearing your views.

 

[castlon11]

In the case of the MI and conduit i would say is fine as is earthed, as long as fly leads are in place as appropriate supplementary effect, as far as i know this is o.k and with the switches i dont think there's anything in the regs stating they have to be grid so just note.

 

[oldtimer]

When I served my time in 1974 the 14th edition stipulated that an installation had to be mechanicaly and electricaly sound as it was common practice to use the conduit as the main earth and the same with MICC cables.

I could be wrong here but when the 15th came out you had to run a seperate earth wire as the industry was going down the route off plastic boxes / DBs.

Me thinks you have just come accros an installion that was installed to the 14th edition so yes it does not comply but as long as the instaltion is mechanically and electrcally sound then it is what the yanks say grandaded in. The problem arises when you have to add on or modify the system.

PS My lights in my house are wired in micc and I was taught the micc was installed for life as there was no deteriation with regards to plastic. So how did I get round the earthing issue when I replaced the board, Well I terminated the micc gland to a metal junction box the ran a T+E between the box and the board.

jings I must be getting old as I have had to go through the 14,15,16 &17th editions here is hoping they do not go for an 18th when they try to get rid of the ring main plus 13 amp plugs but then again thats another story.

 

[castlon11]

So if you do find that a separate earth has to be run (which i've never heard) please let me know. Also if it does not comply and all tests are giving good results then a code 4 would be sufficient.

 

[sparks1234]

Notthing wrong with that as long as you get your Zs readings and they are within the limits of the regs.

Dont think anyone on here would rely on the conduit / trunking as earth these days but no reason why you couldn't install it that way

 

[mgbdanny]

seen this loads on MOD sites its really common and i rang up niceic before to check and they state its fine just as the supplemenatry bonding ect and max zs are fulfilled just as old timer and sparks 1234 said most of the time you get really good reading unless their bits of the wiring elosure missing like conduit bushes which are stopping the earth continuity thats the type of things i would be noting down on a PIR.

 

[KNIPEX]

cheers guys, defintly noting everything down, at least if its there, there is no come back on me even if other people wouldnt note it down.

i like to make sure im happy with what i report no matter how minor it might seem it me signing the sheet at the end of the day.

so back to that, a ringmain wired in pyro, what you put in from end to end on the earth has you dont have any ends, also r1+r2 will be fun aswell.

 

[crabapple]

the r2 is the Cu covering it all, put a croc clip on it, if they havnt potted on the earth tail.

lots of parrallel paths mind u, should bring your readings down lower